12 Healthy (and Fun) Ways To Start Your Day

People miss the most important time of day by checking their phones instead of starting their day one of these 12 ways

In 2017, a Deloitte Global Mobile Consumer Survey found that 89 percent of people check their phones within one hour of waking. That’s an astounding number of people bypassing the best opportunity for setting the pace of the day.

Imagine how you would feel if you could wake up, stretch and simply breathe. What if you slowly got out of bed, meditated for five minutes or longer, and showered with no thought about this email or that text message.

You may be busy. You may have a full plate begging for your attention. But you’re no good if you’re burnt out before you’re out of bed. If you want less stress and more joy, then put down the phone and do these things instead.

1) Move

Stretch. Curl into a ball. And stretch again. Bend and flex your legs and arms. Arch your back. Crawl out of bed, pull out your yoga mat, and down dog with some acknowledgements to the sun. Or hit the ground running. Take your tennies to the pavement for fresh air and movement. Get your blood flowing. Pump your muscles and organs full of oxygen and nutrients. There’s no better way to get your brain in gear.

2) Pray

No matter what higher power you believe in, if you believe, you know the power of prayer. If you’re like most people, you’ve got stress in your life. Pray for that stress. Pray for your body. Pray for your friends and family. Pray for the day. Make a connection to the Divine.

3) Meditate

No need to leave bed for this one, unless you’re tempted to snooze. If that’s the case, snag your favorite chair or spot on the couch. Meditate for five, ten, 15 minutes or more. Meditation reigns in your monkey mind and gives you the focus necessary to handle challenges with clarity and patience.

4) Gratitude

It can be hard to be grateful if your life is falling down around you. But even in your darkest days, there’s plenty to be grateful for. Let’s start with the most obvious: you’re alive. You breathe. Your heart pumps. Start there, then take a look around. What else can you be grateful for? The clothes on your back. The bed, couch, car or bench you slept on. The food you eat. The stranger who smiled. The penny you found on the sidewalk. And if you’re blessed with abundance, then praise the high heavens for all you have been given.

5) Breathe

Breath stimulates the body and mind. Oxygen rushes in and perfuses your entire system which stimulates energy production while cleansing your body of toxins and waste. Breathe now, breathe more, breathe often. Do a series of breathing exercises like equal breathing (same count in and out, through the nose).

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